Pawn of the Billionaire(61)

“The owners will just have to help the other girl out for a bit. This will sweeten the blow, I don’t doubt. I’ll get someone to take the bread and the money and say that you’re having a few hours off.” He looked at me, his eyes shadowed. “Please, Toni.”

I was undone. “All right.”

His voice deepened. “Thank you.” He looked around. A man came forward, took the bread and the money and went off after some brief instructions.

James hesitated. “The cafe round the corner has very hard chairs. Could we find a hotel with a more comfortable seat for you? I’ll bring you back when you say.”

I looked at him. He’d never broken his promises for little things like that, it was just the big things.

“Okay.”

“Thank you,” he said again and beckoned. A car slid around the corner and drew up next to us. It wasn’t Steve driving, but then it was a hired car, I supposed.



* * *



I didn’t talk in the car, and stared out of the window. I needed to think what I was going to say when we had the conversation. I knew it would be difficult. I was so close to just going back, accepting any crumb of attention he offered. But I couldn’t live with myself if I did that. My pride hadn’t got me anywhere, though. One thing for certain, I wouldn’t go illegal working again. There was no way out from that if one didn’t want to be found. No, I had to be strong, make sure I could get work that allowed me self-respect and the chance to achieve. And that meant not being followed. Making the break without looking over my shoulder all the time.

The car drew up outside a hotel, and James helped me out, his eyes watching the way I moved. I bit my lip and tried to walk normally. Inside, James took me into the lounge, and found a quiet corner with a large, squashy sofa. It looked divine. I’d never be able to get out of it.

The manager hurried up, looking distastefully at me. I did look a bit of a wreck, I supposed, but he got nowhere near me. James was between us.

“Coffee. And cakes. Quickly, man.” And the sheer force of his presence had the man backing away fast.

The sheer force of his presence had me all gooey too. I suppressed a grin and sat in the armchair rather than the sofa. It might be a public lounge, but I couldn’t trust myself not to fall into his arms otherwise. When James turned and saw where I’d sat, he ghosted a smile.

“I deserve that.” And he sat on the sofa, leaning towards me. There was silence. He looked so tired. He rubbed his hands down his face.

“I’m sorry, Toni. Whatever I did or said or you heard, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t ever have wanted you in the position you’ve been in this last ten days.”

I wasn’t sure how to answer. He looked so wretched, all I wanted to do was throw myself in his arms and promise not to cause him any trouble ever again. But I had to stop myself. He didn’t love me. I’d heard him. He was going to give me away to his brother. But if that was true, then why did he look so wretched? He had enough money to forget me and go and find another girl. This must be due to something else.

“Paul told you where I was.”

He bowed his head. “I think Paul would have told me. He’s been worried too. But we were with him when you rang yesterday.” He smiled. “I knocked the chair over when I jumped up. We hoped you hadn’t heard it.”

“Oh. I heard it, didn’t realize what it was.”

He lifted his head and waited, while the coffee tray was set down on the table in front of us. He nodded his thanks and the waiter left us.

“I don’t think you realize how close we were to finding you. Ever since we knew you’d flown to New Orleans, we’ve been staying and combing the city. But we started the wrong end, and have been searching the wrong wards.” He gave a faint smile. “But when you said Raven Street, we had a good start.”

I shrugged. “I didn’t know you knew I was in New Orleans.”

He looked almost ashamed. “I’m sorry, I had to know you were okay. I needed to find you.” His eyes drilled into me. “And you’re not okay, are you?”

I dropped my eyes. “It’s none of your business, really. Not now.”

“Lawrence thinks you overheard me talking to my father.” There was pain in his voice.

“Yes. You’re giving me away. You were just having a bit of fun with me, and then you were going to send me away to your brother.” I had to stop, swallow hard. “You led me on, you let me start to l— to care about you, and you never said!”

The lines in his face deepened. “I’m ashamed that I didn’t tell you originally. And I can’t ever take that back now.” He glanced up. “Did you hear the end of the conversation?”